Announcements
Meeting With the Stars: Exclusive Rate
As CSG West prepares to convene its 2023 Annual Meeting, we invite you to register before April 1 to receive $100 off the early bird rate. Join us August 1-4 in Universal City, California, as we celebrate 76 years of conversation and regional collaboration.

The Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of western legislators, convening over 500 participants yearly and offering a unique environment to engage, learn, and connect. Mark your calendar and register today!
State Visits
From Left to Right: Senator Harold Pope, Edgar Ruiz, Martha Castañeda and Senator Bill Soules
Snow surrounds New Mexico's Roundhouse
On the Road with CSG West: New Mexico
Two weeks ago, staff from CSG West conducted their annual state visit to the Land of Enchantment. Edgar Ruiz and Martha Castañeda connected with legislators February 7th-9th. 

New Mexico's first session of the 56th Legislature kicked off January 17 and will run for 60 days, until March 18th. As of the halfway point of the session, lawmakers had filed over 1000 bills and other measures. In even years, such as next year's, the session is limited to 30 days and focused on the state's budget. 

New Mexico is in the enviable position of having a significant budget surplus. Just in the first four months of 2022, more than $1.7 billion were added as a result of oil and gas revenues from the Permian basin. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, New Mexico’s Permian basin produces the most oil than any other region nationwide and is second to the Appalachia region in gas production. Recognizing that this windfall is one time money make the budget process tricky for policymakers. 
Housing Policy
State Approaches to Address Homelessness and Increase Affordable Housing
The U.S. has a shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income households — those whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline, or 30% of their area median income, whichever is higher. There are just 36 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 low-income households — a deficit of 7 million homes nationwide.
CSG Justice Center
988: A Shared Opportunity for Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Partners
Last summer, the U.S. transitioned to 988—a 3-digit code for people to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For the criminal justice field, the transition to 988 is an important opportunity to shift people in crisis toward appropriate care and minimize contact with law enforcement and the justice system.

The CSG Justice Center released two new 988 resources this week: a pocket card for law enforcement officers and a video highlighting perspectives on 988 from partners in crisis response.
THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST www.csgwest.org
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